England call up Archer for Ashes opener, Stokes reinstated

LONDON - Speedster Jofra Archer received his maiden call-up to the England test squad for the Ashes series opener against Australia while all-rounder Ben Stokes was reappointed Joe Root’s deputy on Saturday.

Barbados-born Archer was one of the standout performers in England’s maiden 50-overs World Cup triumph earlier this month. The 24-year-old is set to make his Test debut despite only returning to action on Friday in a T20 Blast clash for Sussex after a side strain.

Archer, who revealed he had bowled in “excruciating” pain with a side strain throughout the second half of the World Cup, is poised to make his Test debut as part of a whirlwind summer which saw him play his first international match in May. He went on to take 20 World Cup wickets, a record for an England bowler in the tournament, which also saw him bowling the dramatic tied Super Over that enabled the hosts to win the title on boundary countback.

The pace bowler missed England’s 143-run win over Ireland in a one-off test at Lord’s, as did batsman Jos Buttler and Stokes but the trio were included in the 14-man squad for the Edgbaston Test beginning on Aug. 1.

After the World Cup, there had been a suggestion he may be rested until the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, but the ECB said upon announcing the squad for the first Test, that “his readiness for five-day cricket will be assessed at Edgbaston”. Archer has played 28 First-class matches taking 131 wickets at 23.44.

“Though it’s unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home test, there are compelling reasons to do so here,” national selector Ed Smith said in a statement. “Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles... Some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being monitored to assess their preparation for test cricket.” England’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson is making good progress in his rehabilitation from his right calf injury and is expected to be fit for the match, the cricket board said.

“The wider circumstances — a successful World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series — are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection,” Smith added.

Spinner Jack Leach misses out despite his battling 92 in the second innings of the Ireland game that earned him the man-of-the-match award. Stokes takes over as vice-captain from Jos Buttler for the first time since Sept. 2017 after being cleared of affray last year over a fight outside a nightclub which prosecutors said left two men unconscious.